Which broker is better for Georgia traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Georgia traders navigating the forex market in 2026, choosing between IC Markets and Exness is a critical decision. Both brokers score an impressive 4.8 out of 5, but they cater to different trading preferences within Georgia's growing retail trading community. IC Markets is renowned for its ultra-low spreads and institutional-grade execution, making it a favorite among experienced scalpers in Tbilisi and Batumi. Exness, on the other hand, offers flexible leverage up to 1:2000 and zero-commission accounts, appealing to Georgian traders who prioritize lower entry barriers and diverse asset access. With local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT supported by both, traders can easily fund accounts in USD or GEL. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your trading style, risk tolerance, and regulatory expectations in Georgia.
| Instrument | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Exness |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Exness |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Exness |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Exness |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $200 | $10 | Exness |
| Inactivity fee | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
When comparing trading costs for Georgia traders, IC Markets holds a slight edge for high-volume scalpers. Its Raw Spread account offers spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD with a $3.5 commission per lot round turn, translating to a total cost of around $7 per lot. Exness's Standard account has spreads from 0.3 pips with no commission, costing $3 per lot, while its Zero account offers spreads from 0.0 pips with a $3.5 commission per side. For Georgia traders trading 10+ lots daily, IC Markets becomes more cost-effective. However, Exness is better for smaller traders or those using USDT deposits, as it has no minimum deposit for e-wallets and lower overall costs on smaller volumes.
| Account Type | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| VPS trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Min deposit | $200 | $10 |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entity / Asset | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 1:2000 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Margin call level | 80% | 80% |
| Stop out level | 50% | 50% |
| Asset Class | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | IC Markets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | IC Markets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | IC Markets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Exness |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Options | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Futures | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed spreads | ✗ | ✗ |
| Variable spreads | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, which are widely used by Georgia traders for their reliability and advanced charting tools. IC Markets also provides cTrader, a platform favored by scalpers for its faster execution and depth of market. Exness offers its proprietary WebTerminal and mobile apps, but lacks cTrader. For Georgian traders who trade on the go, both brokers have robust mobile apps with Georgian language support and real-time quotes. IC Markets is better for algorithmic traders, while Exness's platform is more user-friendly for beginners.
| Factor | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Exness |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | IC Markets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Dealing desk | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| News trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
IC Markets offers institutional-grade execution with an average order execution speed of 40 milliseconds and no requotes, making it ideal for scalpers in Georgia. Exness also provides fast execution with speeds under 100 milliseconds, but may experience slippage during high volatility. Both brokers use No Dealing Desk (NDD) execution, ensuring transparent pricing. For Georgia traders trading during Asian or European sessions, IC Markets's execution is more consistent, especially for major pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD.
| Safety Factor | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | FCA |
| Reg number | #335692 | #730729 |
| Verify registration | Verify ↗ | Verify ↗ |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
IC Markets is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), offering strong investor protection. Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Seychelles, providing a similar level of oversight. For Georgia traders, neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, but both comply with international standards. This means Georgian clients benefit from segregated accounts and negative balance protection, though deposit insurance may not apply locally. Always verify the broker's license status before depositing.
| Payment Method | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposit fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal time | E-wallets instant-24hrs; Cards 3-5 business days (up to 10); Int'l bank wire up to 14 days | 24/7 automated; 98% instant to 24hrs; mobile money often instant; bank transfer 1-3 days |
| Min withdrawal | $50 | $50 |
Georgia traders can fund their accounts at both IC Markets and Exness using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT (Tether). IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 via bank transfer and $50 via e-wallets, with processing times of 1-3 business days for bank transfers and instant for e-wallets and USDT. Exness offers lower minimum deposits: $10 for Skrill/Neteller and no minimum for USDT via TRC20. Withdrawals at both brokers are processed within 24 hours for e-wallets and USDT, while bank transfers take 2-5 days. Exness has an edge for Georgia traders using USDT, as it supports instant deposits and withdrawals without conversion fees. Always use the same method for deposits and withdrawals to avoid delays.
| Islamic Account Feature | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gold swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crypto swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both IC Markets and Exness offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Georgia traders who require Sharia-compliant trading. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on request for all account types, with no overnight interest charges on major forex pairs. Exness also offers Islamic accounts with zero swaps, but applies a small administrative fee after holding positions for more than a few days. Georgian Muslim traders should contact support to activate the account, as it is not available by default. IC Markets is generally more favorable for long-term holders, while Exness is suitable for short-term traders.
| Support Feature | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✓ | Exness |
| 24/5 support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | IC Markets |
IC Markets offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with response times under 30 seconds for live chat. Exness also provides 24/7 support in multiple languages, including Russian and English, which are widely spoken in Georgia. Both brokers have comprehensive FAQ sections and educational resources. For Georgian traders, Exness's support is slightly more responsive for payment-related queries, while IC Markets excels in technical support for platform issues.
| Mobile Feature | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5★ | 4.3★ | IC Markets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3★ | 4.2★ | IC Markets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Mobile deposit/withdrawal | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Dark mode | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Resource | IC Markets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | IC Markets |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | IC Markets |
| Beginner resources | Excellent | Basic | IC Markets |
Choose IC Markets if you...
Choose Exness if you...
For Georgia traders in 2026, both IC Markets and Exness are excellent brokers, but your choice depends on your trading profile. IC Markets is the best option for serious scalpers and high-volume traders who benefit from its ultra-low spreads and cTrader platform. Exness is more suitable for retail traders who value low entry barriers, flexible leverage, and instant USDT deposits. Both brokers accept local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, and comply with international regulations. While neither is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, they offer strong investor protection. We recommend opening a demo account with both to test execution and spreads before committing real funds.